Orchard Road Christmas light-up 2018 brings Disney magic to life

Your favourite Disney and Pixar characters will be coming to life this Christmas season at Orchard Road’s annual street light-up. Partnering with the Walt Disney Company and Hitachi, main sponsors of the event, “Disney Magical Moments – Christmas on a Great Street” is Southeast Asia’s largest street light-up, and the first branded event since the event’s inception.

Mr Amit Malhotra, Country Manager for Walt Disney Singapore and Malaysia, said the festivities were specially created to thrill fans and create a memorable holiday season for all. And thrill it will. Starting from Tanglin Mall and ending at Plaza Singapura, the nearly 3km stretch of road will be decked out in Disney themed festive cheer at every corner.

There’s plenty of fun for the whole family, with four themed zones (Disney Princess, Mickey Mouse & Friends, Frozen and Toy Story) full of wondrous lights and decorations.

There will be plenty of photo opportunities in each zone, as well as pop up stores along Orchard Road if you need a respite from the heat and humidity.

The Great Christmas Village will also be making a comeback, with even more carnival rides and food vendors than last year. From November 15 to December 26, expect live performances every night, art and craft activities for the kids and even a wheelchair friendly carousel ride.

To officially kick off the festivities, there will be a light up ceremony at Plaza Singapura on November 10, 6.30pm.

Disney Magical Moments runs November 10, 2018 to January 1, 2019, from 6.30pm to 12MN daily, to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and to 6am on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Admission is free. The nearest MRT stations are Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset and Orchard. More details can be found on the official website.

C3 AFA 2018: A taste of Akihabara in Singapore

Since the days of Naruto in 480p to present day Boruto in HD, Anime Festival Asia (AFA) has been a staple for local fans of anime and Japanese pop culture. The annual affair has grown tremendously since it first reached our shores back in 2008, solidifying its status as a pilgrimage of sorts, akin to the wonders of Akihabara.

Back for its tenth anniversary, AFA 2018 proved to be the best its ever been with performances from a star-studded lineup at the I Love Anisong concert series, renown cosplayers and more exclusive merchandise than ever before. Didn’t get to attend? Fret not, here’s everything you missed from the greatest anime exhibition of the year.

Walk in and you’ll be greeted by this massive Gundam model. I don’t know about you but the sooner we get actual functional Gundams the better!

Fans of Gunpla were also in for a treat with this huge selection. There’s even more selections at the back!

Of course, AFA wouldn’t be complete without the game taking Japan (and frankly, the world) by storm. Whether you love or hate the Gacha mechanics of the game, it’s hard to argue with Fate Grand Order’s (FGO)’s success. Staying true to the game mechanics, at the center of the exhibition was a summoning circle where fans could place their phones to summon in-game characters.

Gaming was also a huge part of AFA this year. Apart from FGO, Honkai Impact also featured a booth where players could compete in time trials. Scattered around the exhibition were also other games such as Taiko Drum Master, Touhou and even PUBG.

What to expect at C3 Anime Festival Asia 2018

Celebrate a decade of Japanese pop culture at C3 Anime Festival Asia (AFA)’s tenth anniversary. The three-day event promises anime fans and Japanese pop culture enthusiasts the very best of content and experiences straight from Japan.

For the first time, AFA will be holding a red carpet event in front of Suntec to usher in the event. An online portal will also be launched as part of the Anime for a Cause initiative, where fans can participate in lucky draws to win items donated by celebrities and partners.

Tickets to the ever-popular I Love Anisong concert series are selling fast thanks to a star-studded lineup featuring the likes of TrySail, GARNiDELiA and May’n.

Concert tickets start from SGD$88 for one-day general admission, or SGD$158 for one-day VIP tickets. All VIP tickets come with an autograph opportunity and one Anisong lightstick. Attendees will also get access to special showcases and guest talkshows.

Cosplay enthusiasts are also in luck with celebrity cosplayers from around the world making an appearance. Expect Angie, KANAME and Siutao amongst others.

Local cosplayers are also in luck with the chance to pit their skills and craft to emerge victorious at the World Cosplay Summit Singapore Preliminaries. Winners will fly to Nagoya, Japan next year and battle it out with the best cosplayers across the globe. Competition guidelines can be found at here.

Of course, what would AFA be without anime? Fans can expect exclusive premieres for January 2019 shows such as Mob Psycho 100 2. Voice actors from Frame Arm Girls, Love Live! Sunshine!! and Sword Art Online Alicization, amongst others, will also be at the event.

Anime merchandise will also be available. Stock up on the latest merch from Bandai, GOODSMILECOMPANY, and others.

AFA 2018 runs from November 30 to December 2, 1oam to 8pm daily. Tickets for the exhibition start from SGD$15 for one-day admission. More details on ticketing and activities can be found here.

Neon Lights festival returns for a three-day celebration of the best indie acts

Singapore’s biggest indie music festival, Neon Lights, is back for a third instalment this November with a stacked line-up spanning three days. The festival returns to Fort Canning Park from November 9 to November 11, complete with headline acts and indie legends from all around the world.

Photo: Neon Lights

After successful runs in 2015 and 2016, local indie fans were left disappointed when Neon Lights took a break last year. The organisers made a promise the festival would return in full strength in 2018 and that it did. Festival director Declan Forde said they were thrilled to be returning and had put a lot of thought into the line-up to ensure both quality and diversity so everyone could enjoy the festival to the fullest.

Photo: Neon Lights

Kicking things off on November 9 is Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna who will be serenading the crowd in her first public performance in over a year.

Neon Lights runs November 9 to November 11, 6pm to 1030pm on November 9 and 2pm to 1030pm on November 10 and 11. Individual day tickets start from $99 for adults and $25 for children and can be purchased via the website or SISTIC.